U.S. patent number 6,899,587 [Application Number 10/268,045] was granted by the patent office on 2005-05-31 for flyer discs.
Invention is credited to Elizabeth Marie McClung, Guy LaMont McClung, III, Guy LaMonte McClung, IV, John Michael McClung, Karen Therese McClung, Sarah Therese McClung.
United States Patent |
6,899,587 |
McClung , et al. |
May 31, 2005 |
Flyer discs
Abstract
A flying disc which in certain aspects has a disc body having an
outer perimeter and a plurality of cuts, indentations, grooves,
and/or weakened areas spaced-apart around the outer perimeter, and
at least one portion [or a plurality thereof] of the disc body
between at least one pair of the cuts, etc., said portion(s) folded
from the disc body. In certain aspects such a disc has a weight or
weights, secondary piece or secondary disc connected to the disc
body on either the top or bottom thereof, the weights(s), secondary
piece or disc for facilitating flight of the disc body.
Inventors: |
McClung; Karen Therese (Spring,
TX), McClung; Sarah Therese (Spring, TX), McClung;
Elizabeth Marie (Spring, TX), McClung; John Michael
(Spring, TX), McClung, IV; Guy LaMonte (Spring, TX),
McClung, III; Guy LaMont (Spring, TX) |
Family
ID: |
25356862 |
Appl.
No.: |
10/268,045 |
Filed: |
October 9, 2002 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
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871170 |
May 31, 2001 |
6585551 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
446/46; 446/48;
473/588 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B
67/00 (20130101); A63H 33/18 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A63H
33/00 (20060101); A63B 67/00 (20060101); A63H
33/18 (20060101); A63H 027/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;446/46,47,48,42-45,36-39 ;473/588,569,573-574
;273/425,426,398,401-404,407 ;229/103,109
;206/408,216,551,315.1 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Banks; Derris H.
Assistant Examiner: Williams; Jamila O
Attorney, Agent or Firm: McClung; Guy
Parent Case Text
RELATED APPLICATION
This is a division of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/871,170 filed
May 31, 2001 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,585,551, which is incorporated
fully herein for all purposes.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An object of manufacture comprising a primary piece of material,
a disc body contained within and separable from the primary piece
of material, the disc body having an outer perimeter, the outer
perimeter indicated by marking on the primary piece of material,
the disc body having a plurality of spaced-apart cut lines marked
on the disc body for indicating locations of cuts to be made on the
disc body to form a plurality of portions of the disc body foldable
with respect to the disc body at said outer perimeter to facilitate
flight of the disc body and foldable to overlap a side of an
adjacent portion of said plurality of portions.
2. The object of manufacture of claim 1 wherein the primary piece
of material is part of a box.
3. The object of manufacture of claim 2 wherein the box is a
cardboard box.
4. The object of manufacture of claim 3 wherein the cardboard box
is a pizza box.
5. The object of manufacture of claim 1 wherein the primary piece
of material minus the disc body forms a target at which the disc
body be thrown.
6. A flying disc comprising a disc body having an outer perimeter
and a plurality of cuts spaced-apart around the outer perimeter, a
plurality of portions of the disc body, each portion of the
plurality of portions of the disc body between two cuts of the
plurality of cuts, each said portion folded from and at an angle to
the disc body for facilitating flight of the flying disc, and said
portions of the plurality of portions forming a downwardly
projecting lip around the outer perimeter of the disc body.
7. The flying disc of claim 6 further comprising a secondary piece
connected to an underside of the disc body, the secondary piece for
facilitating flight of the disc body.
8. The flying disc of claim 7 further comprising the secondary
piece positioned within the plurality of portions of the disc
body.
9. The flying disc of claim 6 wherein the disc body is formed by
separating the disc body from a piece of material.
10. The flying disc of claim 9 wherein the piece of material is
part of a box.
11. The flying disc of claim 10 wherein the box is a cardboard box
for holding a pizza.
12. A flying disc comprising a disc body having an outer perimeter
and a plurality of outer portions spaced-apart around the outer
perimeter, at least one of the outer portions of said plurality of
outer portions between and adjacent to two other of said outer
portions of said plurality of outer portions, the disc body having
a plurality of cuts spaced-apart around the outer perimeter, the
plurality of cuts comprising a plurality of pairs of cuts, each
pair of cuts having therebetween an outer portion of said plurality
of outer portions, each outer portion of said plurality of outer
portions at an angle to the disc body to facilitate flight of the
flying disc, and part of each said outer portion overlapping a part
of an adjacent outer portion of said plurality of outer
portions.
13. The flying disc of claim 12 further comprising a secondary
piece connected to the disc body for facilitating flight of the
flying disc.
14. The flying disc of claim 12 wherein the disc body is made of
cardboard having a thickness, the disc body has a shape when viewed
from above, the secondary piece has a shape similar to the shape of
the disc body when viewed from above, and the secondary piece has a
thickness substantially equal to the thickness of the disc
body.
15. The flying disc of claim 13 wherein the secondary piece has at
least one tab and the disc body has at least one slit corresponding
to the at least one tab, the at least one tab insertable into the
at least one slit to connect the secondary piece to the disc
body.
16. The flying disc of claim 13 further comprising the secondary
piece positioned within said plurality of outer portions.
17. The flying disc of claim 12 wherein the disc body has a shape
as viewed from above from the group consisting of triangular,
rectangular, square, pentagonal, hexagonal, septagonal, octagonal
nonagonal, and decagonal.
18. The flying disc of claim 6 wherein the plurality of outer
portions of the disc body are all folded in one direction from the
disc body.
19. The flying disc of claim 6 wherein the disc body is cardboard.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention is directed to flying discs, and to items with
them.
2. Description of Related Art
The prior art discloses a wide variety of flying discs, flying
objects, and toys, e.g. those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos.
5,799,616; 5,553,570; and 6,073,588; pending application Ser. No.
09/592,976 filed Jun. 12, 2000; pending application entitled
"Flying Disc with Compact Disc" filed, May 23, 2001 naming McClung,
III and Van Natter III as inventors; and in the prior art cited in
these applications and patents--all of which are incorporated fully
herein for all purposes.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
The present invention, in certain embodiments discloses a flying
disc made, e.g., from cardboard. In certain aspects, a portion or
portions around the disc periphery are folded and/or bent down. In
one aspect these portions extend continuously completely around the
discs perimeter.
Cardboard, plastic or similar material which is sufficiently rigid
may be used for the disc body so that the disc body will remain
flat or substantially flat in flight. In certain aspects the disc
is generally square, rectangular, triangular, pentagonal,
quadragonal, hexagonal, septagonal, octagonal, oval, or ciruclar as
viewed from above, but it may have any shape (as viewed from above
or below) which serves as the body for the flying disc. Any such
shape may have one or more cut-out portions. The folded or bent
portions may be in contact with, not be interconnected with or
interlocked with adjacent portions; or, alternatively, these
portions may contact each other, be taped together, be
interconnected, and/or be interlocked with each other.
In one aspect such a disc is made by cutting out, tearing out, or
punching out a disc piece with the desired shape from a larger
piece of plastic, paper, foam board, fiberboard, kraft paper,
cardboard, etc. Slits, weakened areas, grooves, indentations,
and/or cuts are then made around the discs perimeter (or this may
be done before the disc piece is cut or punched out from the larger
piece of material). A portion or portions of the disc (one, two,
three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, or
more) between pairs of slits etc. are then folded down. These slits
may, in certain aspects, point generally toward a center of the
disc. Alternatively, weakened or slit lines marked (e.g. marked in
ink) on top of the disc around its circumference (e.g. which do not
point at the disc center on a point rather at two points on the
disc's perimeter) provide lines down from which a part of the disc
body can be bent or folded to provide the portion or portions
projecting down from the disc body to facilitate its flight. In one
particular aspect this produces an intermittent lip around the disc
perimeter that facilitates the flight of the disc (as compared to a
flat piece of material with no such lip or portions).
Alternatively, parts of the disc are folded or bent down around the
disc perimeter without the aid of slots, marks, etc.
In one embodiment two (or more) discs are connected together. In
one such multi-disc assembly, two such discs are connected
face-to-face so that the slits or cuts in the downward projecting
edge of one disc are offset from those of the other disc. In
another aspect a first disc with the intermittent lip of
folded-down portions is connected to and on top of a disc (or
discs) with no such portions.
In another embodiment a secondary piece of material is connected
face-to-face, on top of or beneath, a disc as described above. Such
a secondary piece may be any desired shape and adds weight and/or
stability and facilitates flight of a disc with the lip of the disc
(the lip that includes the folded or bent down portions) on the
lower side of the disc in flight. Alternatively any weight or
weights may be connected to a disc to facilitate its flight (e.g.,
but not limited to, to facilitate disc flight so that the disc
flies flat rather than turning, twisting or flipping over in
flight) and/or to stabilize it.
In one particular embodiment the cardboard used to produce a disc
according to the present invention is cut out of a box, as may be
the secondary piece, or multiple discs of a multi-disc disc.
The disc and/or secondary piece may be cut from any suitable
cardboard, foam board, thick paper, plastic, rigid material, or box
or container made from these materials. In a particular aspect the
disc and/or secondary piece are cut out or punched out from a
cardboard pizza box. The outline of the disc body and/or of the
secondary piece (and/or of multiple discs) may be printed or
otherwise drawn or embossed on the box. Lines may be included to
indicate where the material is to be folded, bent, torn or cut to
form the portions of the lip that are folded down. Depending on the
size of the box, and the desired disc size, multiple discs and
secondary pieces may be torn, punched-out or cut from a single box.
Alternatively, a box may be perforated or otherwise cut or weakened
along the outlines of the disc(s) and/or secondary pieces to ease
separation of them from the box. In certain aspects one or more
portions of a secondary piece or of a second disc are formed, sized
and configured to engage, interlock with, or fit into corresponding
slits, openings, engagement recesses, or locking cutouts on a
primary disc body. Such engagement etc. apparatus may be used with
or without other ways to fasten a secondary piece or additional
disc to a primary disc [including, but not limited to, with glue,
adhesive, staple(s), brad(s), screw(s), releasably cooperating
hook/loop fastener material [e.g. but not limited to Velcro (TM)
material; tape; and/or string or thread]. Similarly a weight or
weights may be connected to a primary disc according to the present
invention with or without a secondary piece.
For use in the dark any disc, weight, or secondary piece may have
one or more pieces of "glow in the dark" material or reflective
material on it and/or one or more light sticks and/or battery or
solar powered lights (such items and materials referred to
collectively herein as "light material").
In one aspect a box from which a disc or secondary piece is taken
may be used as a target and/or container at which a disc or discs
are thrown. In one particular embodiment, a box or part of a box
from which a disc is taken is used as a target. In one aspect, the
newly-created opening (from which the disc was removed) is used as
a target. In one aspect one or more additional discs is cut out or
punched out from a first disc so that a smaller disc (or discs) is
created that can more easily fly through the box opening
corresponding to the first disc. Optionally, any such opening may
be enlarged so that a disc may pass through it or a disc thus
removed from a box may be reduced in size so it will pass through
the opening.
In one particular aspect of the present invention a dual disc
includes a first disc with a disc body with a peripheral lip and a
groove or recess in the lip. This groove or recess is configured
and sized for releasable receipt therein of the lip of a second
disc. In one aspect such a dual disc combination is used as a
container for an object or objects in a space between the two
discs.
Any secondary piece (or secondary disc) or pieces and/or disc body
may have indicia thereon, including, but not limited to,
identification and/or scoring indicia. One primary disc may have
connected thereto a plurality of secondary pieces on top and/or on
bottom thereof.
For any disc according to the present invention for which a slit,
perforated portion and/or weakened portion is provided for
facilitating folding or bending of a disc periphery portion, such
folding or bending may be done by folding or bending the disc
material upwardly or downwardly (when the disc is held horizontally
flat prior to such folding or bending). All folded portions may be
folded down or up; or one or more folded portions may be up and one
or more folded portions down.
What follows are some of, but not all, the objects of this
invention. In addition to the specific objects stated below for at
least certain preferred embodiments of the invention, other objects
and purposes will be readily apparent to one of skill in this art
who has the benefit of this invention's teachings and disclosures.
It is, therefore, an object of at least certain preferred
embodiments of the present invention to provide:
New, useful, unique, efficient, nonobvious flying discs and/or
flyers, which in one aspect have one or more peripheral portions
thereof folded or bent down and/or up from a main disc body;
Such discs taken from a larger piece of material which in one
particular aspect is a cardboard box or part thereof; and
Two or more such discs taken from a larger piece of material.
Certain embodiments of this invention are not limited to any
particular individual feature disclosed here, but include
combinations of them distinguished from the prior art in their
structures and functions. Features of the invention have been
broadly described so that the detailed descriptions that follow may
be better understood, and in order that the contributions of this
invention to the arts may be better appreciated. There are, of
course, additional aspects of the invention described below and
which may be included in the subject matter of the claims to this
invention. Those skilled in the art who have the benefit of this
invention, its teachings, and suggestions will appreciate that the
conceptions of this disclosure may be used as a creative basis for
designing other structures, methods and systems for carrying out
and practicing the present invention. The claims of this invention
are to be read to include any legally equivalent devices or methods
which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present
invention.
The present invention recognizes and addresses the
previously-mentioned problems and long-felt needs and provides a
solution to those problems and a satisfactory meeting of those
needs in its various possible embodiments and equivalents thereof.
To one skilled in this art who has the benefits of this invention's
realizations, teachings, disclosures, and suggestions, other
purposes and advantages will be appreciated from the following
description of preferred embodiments, given for the purpose of
disclosure, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings. The detail in these descriptions is not intended to
thwart this patent's object to claim this invention no matter how
others may later disguise it by variations in form or additions of
further improvements.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A more particular description of embodiments of the invention
briefly summarized above may be had by references to the
embodiments which are shown in the drawings which form a part of
this specification. These drawings illustrate certain preferred
embodiments and are not to be used to improperly limit the scope of
the invention which may have other equally effective or legally
equivalent embodiments.
FIG. 1A is a top plan view of a flying disc according to the
present invention. FIG. 1B is a side view of the disc of FIG. 1A.
FIG. 1C is a side view of the disc of FIG. 1A with portions folded
down. FIG. 1D is a perspective view of a box according to the
present invention.
FIG. 2A is a top plan view of a flying disc according to the
present invention. FIG. 2B is a side view of the disc of FIG. 2A.
FIG. 2C is a side view of the disc of FIG. 2A with portions folded
down.
FIG. 3A is a top play view of a flying disc according to the
present invention. FIG. 3B is a top plan view of a secondary piece
for a multi-part disc according to the present invention. FIG. 3C
is a side view of a multi-part disc according to the present
invention with the flying disc of FIG. 3A and secondary piece of
FIG. 3B.
FIG. 4A is a perspective view of a flying disc according to the
present invention showing the top of the box. FIG. 4B is a side
view of the disc of FIG. 4A.
FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a flying disc according to the present
invention.
FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a flying disc according to the present
invention.
FIGS. 7A-7E are a top plan views of flying discs according to the
present invention.
FIG. 8 is a bottom view of a flying disc according to the present
invention.
FIG. 9A is a side view of a flying disc container system according
to the present invention. FIG. 9B is a side view of a flying disc
of the system of FIG. 9A.
FIG. 10A is a top view of a flying disc according to the present
invention. FIGS. 10B and 10C are side views of the flying disc of
FIG. 10A.
FIGS. 11A-11D are side views in cross-section of flying disc
systems according to the present invention.
FIG. 12A is a perspective view of a box according to the present
invention showing the top of the box. FIG. 12B is a perspective
view of a box of FIG. 12A open with parts removed. FIG. 12C is a
plan view of the box of FIG. 12A unfolded and flat. FIG. 12D is a
top view of a disc and a secondary piece removed from the box of
FIG. 12A.
FIG. 13 is a side view in cross-section of a flying disc container
according to the present invention.
FIG. 14 is a side view in cross-section of a flying disc container
according to the present invention.
FIGS. 15A and 15B are side views of flying discs according to the
present invention.
FIGS. 16A, 16B, 17A and 17B are top views of flying discs or flyers
according to the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS PREFERRED AT THE TIME OF FILING FOR THIS
PATENT
Referring now to FIGS. 1A-1C, a flying disc 10 has a disc body 12
which is generally circular as viewed from above as in FIG. 1A. The
disc body 12 has a plurality of spaced-apart slits 14 which go all
the way through the disc body 12 (but which, according to the
present invention, may be made so that they do not cut completely
through the disc body 12). As shown in FIG. 1C, portions 16 of the
disc body 12 between pairs of slits 14 have been bent down forming
a downwardly projecting lip 18 around the perimeter of the disc
body 12. Although the portions 16 are shown folded down in a
scalloped arrangement (one side of a portion overlapping the
adjacent portion), they may be folded down with two sides of one
portion both overlapping adjacent portions. Also, as with any disc
herein, if the slits 14 do not extend completely through the body
12, the portions 16 may be folded either way with respect to the
slits 14; i.e., e.g. in FIG. 1B the portions 16 may be folded up or
down. It is also within the scope of this invention to fold one or
more portions 16 up and one or more down or to alternate up-down
portions around a disc's perimeter.
The disc body 12 (and any disc body herein) may be made of any
suitable material. For a circular disc (as viewed from above) any
disc body disclosed herein and any circular secondary piece or disc
may be any desired diameter. In certain aspects the disc body (and
any disc body herein) is made of typical cardboard about one fourth
of a centimeter or about one half of a centimeter thick which has
an internal support structure, e.g. as the common cardboard used in
typical cardboard boxes.
FIGS. 2A and 2B show a flying disc 20 according to the present
invention which has a disc body 22 and spaced-apart slits 24. As
shown in FIG. 2C portions 26 between pairs of slits 24 have been
folded down to form a peripheral lip 28.
FIG. 3C shows a flying disc 30 according to the present invention
which has a primary disc 31 with a disc body 32 and a plurality of
bent down portions 33 between spaced-apart slits 34. Attached to or
held within an underside of the disc body 32 is a secondary piece
35 (shown as circular in shape as viewed from above as in FIG. 3B,
but which may be any desired shape). Staples 36 are shown
connecting the secondary piece 35 to the disc body 32; but it is
within the scope of this invention to use any suitable adhesives,
glues, tapes, brads, nails, releasably cooperating hook-and-loop
material, and/or mechanical connectors to connect the secondary
piece to the disc body; and/or to fold the portions 33 so that the
secondary piece is held within them; and/or to tape together,
connect together, and/or interlock the portions 33 together to hold
the secondary piece in place; and/or to attach, adhere, or connect
the secondary piece to one, two, or more, or all of the portions
33. The secondary piece may be for facilitating flight of the disc
30/piece 35 and/or may have indicia and/or advertising thereon. In
one particular embodiment in which a primary disc is cut from a
cardboard box of cardboard about a quarter inch thick, the disc
body is about ten and three-quarters inches in diameter and the
secondary disc is about nine inches in diameter with the folded
portions (eleven of them) between three-and-a-half and two inches
long and about an inch wide; and two staples hold the two discs
together.
As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B the secondary piece 35 (and any disc or
secondary piece herein) may have one, two (as shown) three, four or
more tabs 37 which fit into corresponding slits or openings 38 on a
primary disc 31 to hold the secondary piece to the primary disc.
Such tab/slit apparatus may be used with or without staples 36 or
other adhesives, connectors, etc.
FIGS. 4A and 4B show a flying disc 40 according to the present
invention with a disc body 43 and a plurality of spaced-apart
folded-down portions 46 around the disc perimeter. Portions of the
disc body 42 are torn, cut or otherwise removed to permit the
folding of the portions 44.
FIG. 5 shows a flying disc 50 with markings or slits 54 around a
perimeter of a disc body 52. Portions 56 can be folded down (or up)
from the disc body 52 to form a peripheral lip.
FIG. 6 shows a flying disc 60 with markings or slits 64 around a
perimeter of a disc body 62. Portions 66 can be folded down (or up)
from the disc body 62 to form a peripheral lip.
FIGS. 7A-7E show a variety of flyers with various shapes 71-75,
respectively, as viewed from above for flyers according to the
present invention and any flying disc herein may have any of these
shapes as well as the shape of any desired polygon.
FIG. 8 shows a flying disc 80 according to the present invention
which may be any flying disc or flyer disclosed herein. The flying
disc 80 has a disc body 82 to which are attached one, two (as
shown), three, four or more weight members 83. It has been found
that some disc bodies fly better with added weight and/or with an
added secondary piece (e.g. as in FIG. 3C). Any weight member may
be connected to or attached to a disc body with any attachment, or
connection disclosed herein or with any suitable known securement
apparatus, device, or method.
FIG. 9A shows a flyer container 90 according to the present
invention which has a lower box part 91 for containing an item 99
and an upper flying disc part 92 hingedly connected to the lower
box part 91 with a hinge 93. The hinge 93 may be an easily
severable or tearable hinge made, e.g., of paper, cardboard, or
plastic so that the disc part 92 is separable from the lower box
part 91. Alternatively, the lower box part 91 is also a flying
disc. The disc part 92 and the lower box part 91 may be any desired
size and have any desired dimensions. The item 91 may be any item
that fits within the flyer container 90, including, but not limited
to, pastries or pizza. In one aspect the entire container 90 is
made of plastic in a single mold with either an easily separable
etc. hinge as described above or with a sturdier hinge that is not
so easily separable.
FIG. 10A shows a flying disc 100 with a disc body 102 and markings
or slits 104. As shown in FIG. 10B the disc body 102 has been torn
or cut and portions 106 have been folded down forming a peripheral
lip 108. As shown in FIG. 10C, a flying disc 100a has a disc body
102a (like the disc body 102, FIG. 10A) that has not been cut or
torn and portions 107 have been folded down to form a peripheral
lip 109. As may be done with any disc or flyer disclosed herein,
FIG. 10C shows that the markings or slits may be eliminated.
FIGS. 11A-11D show multi-disc combinations which each include two
flying discs (which may be generally like any flying disc or flyer
disclosed herein or in the prior art cited herein, but with the
particular disclosed structure for releasably mating together two
discs or flyers).
As shown in FIG. 11A a periphery of a flying disc 110 is releasably
held by friction fit within a periphery of a slightly larger flying
disc 111. As shown in FIG. 11B a lower flying disc 112 has a
flattened outer portion 112a that abuts a corresponding flattened
inner portion 113a of a flying disc 113 so that the flying disc 112
is releasably held by a friction fit within the flying disc
113.
As shown in FIG. 11C a flying disc 114 has a flattened tapered
outer portion 114a that abuts a corresponding flattened tapered
inner portion 115a of a flying disc 115 so that the flying disc 114
is releasably held by a friction fit within the flying disc
115.
FIG. 11D shows a flying disc 116 with a portion 116a releasably
held by a friction fit between a portion 117a and a portion 117b of
a flying disc 117. The portion 117b may extend around the entire
circumference of the disc 117 or two or more spaced-apart parts
117b may be used to hold the discs together.
FIGS. 12A-12C show a box 120 according to the present invention
which has a box body 122, which may according to the present
invention be a unitary structure as shown in FIG. 12C that is
fordable into a box or the box 120 may be made of separate pieces
of material, e.g. but not limited to, cardboard. As shown in FIGS.
12A and 12C the box is marked with markings 120a and 120b to
indicate the boundaries of a flying disc 124 removable from a top
120c of the box and a secondary piece (or additional flying disc)
126 removable from a bottom 120d of the box 120. One of the flying
disc 124 and the secondary piece (or disc) 126 may be smaller than
the other so that, as shown in FIG. 12B, the box top 120c may be in
an upright position to serve as a target at which (and/or through
which) a flying disc, e.g. but not limited to, a secondary piece
126 used as a disc may be thrown. Also, the box itself may be a
target into which a disc is thrown. Any disc removed from the box
may be reduced in diameter to easily pass through a box opening
and/or any opening may be enlarged for this purpose. FIG. 1D shows
a disc outline for a disc body 12 with perforations 14 on a box
120.
In one aspect the secondary piece 126 serves as a secondary piece
35 (in FIGS. 3B, 3C). The box 120 may be any known box from which
it is possible to form or remove the disc 124 and/or the secondary
piece or disc 126. In one particular aspect, the box 120 is sized
and configured to be a box for pizza. The box may be (but is not
limited to) any box disclosed in any of U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,206,277;
5,595,339; 6,065,669; D 420,583; and all the prior art cited in all
these patents--all of which is incorporated fully herein for all
purposes. Any desired number and size flying discs and/or secondary
pieces or discs may be made of or removed from a single box.
FIG. 13 shows a flyer container 130 which may be any shape
disclosed herein as viewed from above and which has a part 131 with
an outer portion 133 and an inner portion 134 between which is
releasably held by a friction fit an outer part 136 of a flying
disc 132.
FIG. 14 shows a flyer container 140 which may be any shape
disclosed herein as viewed from above and which has a part 141 of a
flying disc 142 with a lip 143. Releasably held within the flying
disc 142 is a support 144 whose bottom rests on the lip 143. By
flexing the flying disc 142 and/or the support 144, the support is
releasably from within the flying disc 142. An item 145, e.g. but
not limited to, pastry, or pizza rests on the support 144. The lip
143 may, according to the present invention, be eliminated, and the
support 144 held in place by a friction fit between it and the
interior of the disc 142.
Any layer or layers of insulating material 146 as shown in FIG. 14
may be used with any flying disc or flyer or container disclosed
herein. Any layer or layers 146 in FIG. 14 (or all of them) may be
deleted. A middle layer like the middle layer 146 in FIG. 14 may
surround the item 145.
Any two flying discs and/or flyers according to the present
invention which are appropriately sized and configured may,
according to the present invention, be nested one inside the other
either for shipment of for use and, in one particular aspect, two
such discs and/or flyers are connected together for use, e.g. but
not limited to, with staples, tape, or any other connector or
connecting method disclosed herein.
FIGS. 15A and 15B present other versions of the disc 10 of FIG. 1A.
As shown in FIG. 15A staples 150 pass through overlapping parts of
adjacent portions 16 of the disc 10. These staples hold the
portions 16 together (and are used for some or all adjacent
portions to connect some or all of them together) and prevent the
portions 16 from moving, flopping around or bending back toward or
to their original position. Any such portions of any disc or flyer
according to the present invention may be thus connected with
staples (or alternatively brads, clips, paper clips or other
similar connectors).
As shown in FIG. 15B, the disc 10 has tape 152 that is taped around
the disc's circumference to tape together the portions 16. Any such
portions of any disc or flyer herein may be thus taped
together.
FIG. 16A shows a flying disc 160 according to the present invention
with a disc body 162 and a plurality of spaced-apart portions 161
that are to be folded down (e.g. like any folded down or bent down
portions of any disc or flyer herein). FIG. 16B shows a flyer 163
according to the present invention with a plurality of spaced-apart
portions 164 that are to be folded down like the portions 161, FIG.
16A. Any flyer or disc herein may have any desired number of
portions like those of FIG. 16A (portions 161) or FIG. 16B
(portions 164). Although these portions are shown as generally
"scalloped" shape or semicircular, they may be any desired general
shape, including but not limited to, triangular, square, or
rectangular.
FIG. 17A shows a flying disc 170 with portions 171 (like the
portions 161, FIG. 16A) whose folding or bending is facilitated by
indentations or incomplete (not all the way through a disc body
172) cuts or grooves 173. Alternatively the indentations, etc. are
replaced by lines or markings indicating where the portion is
folded or bent. FIG. 17B shows a flying disc 174 with a disc body
175 and spaced-apart portions 176 (like portions 171, FIG. 17A).
Indentations or cuts 177 separate the portions 176 and markings 178
(or cuts or indentations) indicate where the portions 176 are to be
folded or bent. Any disc or flyer herein may employ similar
suitable indentations 177 and/or markings (or cuts) 178.
The present invention, therefore, provides in certain, but not
necessarily all embodiments, a flying disc with a disc body having
an outer perimeter and, optionally, a plurality of cuts
spaced-apart around the outer perimeter, at least one portion of
the disc body between at least one pair of the cuts, the at least
one portion folded at an angle to, up from or down from the disc
body, or without such cuts but with one or more folded down
portions; and/or a disc body having an outer perimeter and a
plurality of portions of the disc body folded down from the disc
body around the outer perimeter. Such a flying disc may also
include one, some (in any possible combination) or all of the
following: a secondary piece (or pieces) or disc (or discs)
connected to an underside or top side of the disc body; wherein the
secondary piece is connected to the disc body with at least one
staple, with adhesive, or tape; wherein the secondary piece is for
facilitating flight of the disc body and has indicia or advertising
thereon; wherein the secondary piece is shaped similar to the disc
body; wherein the secondary piece has at least one tab and the disc
body has at least one slit or opening corresponding to the at least
one tab, the at least one tab insertable into the at least one slit
to connect the secondary piece to the disc body, or with tab(s) on
the disc body and corresponding slit(s) or openings(s) on the
secondary piece; wherein the at least one tab is at least two
spaced-apart tabs and the at least one slit is at least two
spaced-apart slits, one slit corresponding to each tab; wherein the
at least one portion is a plurality of adjacent portions, the at
least one pair of cuts is a plurality of pairs of cuts, each
portion of the plurality of adjacent portions folded between a pair
of the cuts (cuts completely through the disc body or only
extending partially thereinto); a secondary piece connected to an
underside of the disc body, the secondary piece for facilitating
flight of the disc body and/or for bearing indicia and/or ads
material, and the secondary piece positioned within the adjacent
portions that are folded down; wherein the disc body has a shape as
viewed from above from the group consisting of triangular,
rectangular, square, pentagonal, hexagonal, septagonal, octagonal,
nonagonal, decagonal and polygonal; at least one light or piece of
light material on the disc body; a piece of material larger than
the disc body from which the disc body is separatable, e.g., but
not limited to part of a box, e.g. but not limited to a cardboard
box; wherein the cardboard box is for holding a pizza; wherein the
piece of material is suitable as a target at which and/or into
which the flying disc or any disc is thrown; wherein the flying
disc is made of rigid material from the group consisting of paper,
cardboard, plastic, metal, foil and foamboard; a secondary flying
disc removed from the disc body; wherein the secondary flying disc
has a disc body having an outer perimeter and a plurality of cuts
spaced-apart around the outer perimeter, and portions of the disc
body between pairs of the cuts, the portions folded down from the
disc body; at least one tertiary disc removed from the secondary
flying disc; wherein the at least one tertiary disc has a disc body
having an outer perimeter and a plurality of cuts spaced-apart
around the outer perimeter, and portions of the disc body between
pairs of the cuts, the portions folded down from the disc body;
wherein the at least one tertiary disc is a plurality of tertiary
discs; wherein the secondary piece has an opening therein suitable
for receiving and holding a portion of the disc body to form a disc
body--secondary piece combination so that one of the disc body and
secondary piece is held upright; and/or wherein the secondary
flying disc has an opening therein suitable for receiving and
holding a portion of the disc body to form a disc body--secondary
flying disc combination so that one of the disc body and flying
disc piece is held upright.
It is within the scope of this invention for the "cuts" described
above to be made with any suitable cutting tool, scissors, knife,
bladed instrument, etc.; and it is also within the scope of this
invention for the portions to be folded or bent from a disc body
made of foldable material to be folded or bent manually; and for
such manual folding or bending the material is, preferably, easily
torn if necessary and if no cuts, etc. are provided, easily
foldable or bendable, and sufficiently lacking in memory that
folded or bent portions stay in their folded or bent position or at
least substantally so to provide a shape that facilitates desired
flight, e.g., relatively flat flight of a flyer or disc.
In conclusion, therefore, it is seen that the present invention and
the embodiments disclosed herein and those covered by the appended
claims are well adapted to carry out the objectives and obtain the
ends set forth. Certain changes can be made in the subject matter
without departing from the spirit and the scope of this invention.
It is realized that changes are possible within the scope of this
invention and it is further intended that each element or step
recited in any of the following claims is to be understood as
referring to all equivalent elements or steps. The following claims
are intended to cover the invention as broadly as legally possible
in whatever form it may be utilized. The invention claimed herein
is new and novel in accordance with 35 U.S.C. .sctn.102 and
satisfies the conditions for patentability in .sctn.102. The
invention claimed herein is not obvious in accordance with 35
U.S.C. .sctn.103 and satisfies the conditions for patentability in
.sctn.103. This specification and the claims that follow are in
accordance with all of the requirements of 35 U.S.C. .sctn.112. The
inventors may rely on the Doctrine of Equivalents to determine and
assess the scope of their invention and of the claims that follow
as they may pertain to apparatus not materially departing from, but
outside of, the literal scope of the invention as set forth in the
following claims.
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